Sexuality & Relationship Info Isn’t Just for Girls

Sometimes we come across information on sexual and reproductive health, and it seems like it’s directed mainly towards the ladies. But it’s just as important for guys to be informed about sexuality and to take action to stay healthy. Here are some facts everyone should know. Some you may already know and others you’ll be surprised to see.

Only 45 percent of guys receive “the talk” before having sex for the first time.

This means that less than half of us guys today had a sit down conversation with our parents about sex. What would be really nice is if we could all have a series of talks with our parents and develop a good relationship, comfort and trust when talking about sexuality. These conversations are important. Though our folks may bug us, sometimes they only really want the best for us.

The most common sexual activity for 14-to 24 year-olds is masturbation.

You may think everyone else is having sex, but it’s not true. The majority of the “sex” that teenagers are getting is coming from themselves. And no one’s ever gotten an STD or pregnant from that!

One study estimates that 70 percent of young women and 37 percent of young men were tested for a sexually transmitted disease (STD) in 2009.

As you can see, a lot more girls are getting tested for STDs than guys. This statistic needs to change. If you have ever had oral, anal or vaginal sex with a partner, get tested because the most common symptom of an STD is no symptoms. You never know what you have until you’ve been properly tested.

Gardasil has been approved for use in boys to prevent genital warts, and it’s on the American Academy of Pediatrics list of recommended vaccines for boys.

Talk to your parents about Gardasil. The next time you see your doctor, you may decide to get vaccinated. The vaccine helps protect against some strains of HPV that can cause genital warts and certain types of cancer.

A guy has no say in whether a girl continues a pregnancy or not.

Teen pregnancy is a pretty tough situation for the guy and girl involved. Whether or not a guy is ready to be a father, he has no say in whether or not his partner continues her pregnancy. Her body, her choice. And if she chooses to have a child, the guy is still responsible for the child. This is why it’s so important to talk to your partner about birth control and what you would do if there is a pregnancy before you have sex.

One in 10 teenage boys admits being abused in relationships.

This is a surprising fact that is overlooked or unknown to many. Boys can be abused in a relationship and that abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional or psychological. Dating violence and abuse is a serious matter. If you are in an abusive relationship, no matter what your gender or the gender of your partner, you need to speak up and get help.

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